BBC One’s Countryfile to celebrate 30th anniversary with series of Royal specials

In early summer, Countryfile will air three special episodes, filmed with permission from Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on the private estates at Windsor, Balmoral and Sandringham. The episodes, set to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, will explore her lifelong attachment to rural Britain, where her passion came from, and her knowledge and love of animals.

Presenter Adam Henson says: “I once had the great pleasure of meeting Her Majesty the Queen, and in our conversation I soon realised that, like me, she loved her animals. It became clear that the working countryside and her animals were her passion.”

The episodes will give unprecedented insight into how these estates are run, revealing how actively involved both The Queen and The Duke have always been in their development.

Launching in 1988, Countryfile was initially fronted by Anne Brown, with veteran broadcaster John Craven joining the series in 1989. 30 years on, in 2018, John shares presenting duties around the year with a full and expert team: Matt Baker, Anita Rani, Ellie Harrison, Steve Brown, Tom Heap, Helen Skelton, Adam Henson, Sean Fletcher, Margherita Taylor, Charlotte Smith and Joe Crowley.

Countryfile has a broad and important remit - to report on farming, to investigate rural issues and to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the British countryside.

Countryfile is produced by BBC Studios, based in Bristol since 2012 and Executive Editor Bill Lyons has worked on the programme for six years.

Bill says: “It’s a privilege to work on Countryfile and a delight that the programme has reached its milestone 30th anniversary. We’ve shared many memorable moments with our viewers during those three decades, but we look to the future and hope to celebrate the beautiful British countryside for many years to come.”

RG